Minnie
Washer was born in 1872 at Berrow, Somerset, England, the daughter of Charles
and Sarah Washer nee Palmer.

The family emigrated to New Zealand on the SS
Dunbriton in 1876.The voyage took
five months.They lived at Mangere,
Auckland for almost 20 years, then moved to Inaha, Waimate Plains in 1894.The Washer homestead was the only house on
the main road between the Waingongoro and Inaha Rivers for many years.

When Minnie's mother died in 1897, Minnie shouldered
the responsibility of caring for the family.She was a keen horsewoman in her youth and a proficient knitter and
crochet worker, helping with garments for soldiers during both world wars.

Minnie and her sister Elsie lived together in
Hawera.Minnie died on the 20 May 1967
and is buried in the Hawera cemetery.